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Pepe suspended for role in brawl at end of Portuguese game

PORTO, Portugal (AP) — Porto defender Pepe was suspended for two matches on Tuesday after being accused of kicking an official from another team during a brawl in the Portuguese league last week.
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FILE - Porto's Pepe rubs his head during their Champions League Group B soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. Porto defender Pepe has been suspended for two matches after being accused of kicking an official from another team during a brawl in the Portuguese league last week. The veteran Portugal international was red carded for allegedly kicking a Sporting Lisbon club director during the altercation at the end of the 2-2 draw between the teams on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira, file)

PORTO, Portugal (AP) — Porto defender Pepe was suspended for two matches on Tuesday after being accused of kicking an official from another team during a brawl in the Portuguese league last week.

The veteran Portugal international was red carded for allegedly kicking a Sporting Lisbon club director during the altercation at the end of the 2-2 draw between the teams on Friday.

Sporting midfielder Bruno Tabata also was suspended for two matches after being accused of pushing a Porto club official during the brawl.

The suspensions for both players could be extended to up to two years after their cases are fully analyzed.

They were among four players — two from each team — who were sent off.

Porto sits six points ahead of second-place Sporting at the top of the Portuguese league standings. Sporting is the current champion.

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The Associated Press